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Category: HR and policies TV Feed

  • BCLM Win “Being Social” category at Digital Culture Awards

    We are thrilled to have been awarded in the “Being Social” category at Arts Council England and the Digital Culture Network’s Digital Culture awards this week! The award recognises our work on TikTok, praising our success in increasing awareness and engagement with new audiences.

    This category at the awards was judged by Adam Kozary, Head of Digital at the Audience Agency, who said:

    “The Black Country Living Museum should be celebrated for sheer global impact, ruthlessly exploiting their niche and showing the rest of the sector how to engage with TikTok. They – and their fellow shortlistees – hold that rare combination of a deep understanding of what their organisation is for, the creative mind to spark ideas and the technical skills to make it happen.“

    Tiina Hill, senior manager of Digital Culture Network, said:

    “We received hundreds of submissions and thousands of votes in this year’s Digital Culture Awards, demonstrating the need to acknowledge and celebrate the creativity of our sector. Arts and cultural organisations across the country have innovated how they connect and engage audiences in-person and online, whilst also embracing digital to adapt their ways of working and find new ways of generating income.“

    We’d like to once again extend a huge thank you to everyone that has been involved with our work on TikTok and other social media channels so far. After our hiatus, the Audiences & Comms team is excited to relaunch the TikTok channel this February to continue increasing awareness of the Museum and engaging with new audiences once again.

  • Dudley’s Holocaust Commemoration service – invitation to join online

    Dudley’s annual Holocaust Commemoration will take place online at noon on Friday 28th January with key-note speaker Janine Webber BEM.

    As a young child, Janine Webber survived the Holocaust by moving between hiding places in occupied Poland, and witnessed the Nazis seizing and murdering other members of her family. She moved to the UK in 1956 where she met her husband. She was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2017 for services to Holocaust Education.

    The annual event is organised by Dudley College’s Students Union, the Holocaust Educational Trust and a small group of volunteers.

    The event will include a presentation from a local student who visited Auschwitz with the Holocaust Educational Trust and have contributions from local faith and civic leaders including the Bishop of Dudley, Rabbi Margaret Jacobi and the leader of Dudley Council, Councillor Patrick Harley.

    It will be very easy for anyone with access to a smartphone, tablet or computer to join the event. If you would like to join, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/HolocaustMemorial22

  • UPDATED INFORMATION: Colleague update in response to the Government’s introduction of ‘Plan B’

    Important update. The Government has issued new rules around self-isolation and testing:

    From Tuesday 14 December, fully vaccinated contacts of a COVID-19 case – whether Omicron or not – should take a rapid daily lateral flow test (LFT) for 7 days to slow the spread of the virus.

    • People who are fully vaccinated and identified as a close contact of someone with Covid-19 should take a lateral flow test every day for 7 days.
      • Anyone who tests positive via LFT, or develops symptoms, should self-isolate and take a confirmatory PCR test to verify the result. If the PCR is positive then people must self-isolate for 10 days from either the day they took the positive LFT, or from when they developed symptoms. People do not have to continue with LFTs while they isolate.
      • If the PCR is negative, fully-vaccinated people can stop self-isolating, but should continue to do daily rapid tests for the remaining 7 days.
    • Anyone who tests positive, or develops symptoms will need to self-isolate
    • Anyone who is unvaccinated is not eligible for this new testing policy and must self-isolate for 10 days

    Internal Staff Communication

    Following the UK Government’s announcement (08-12-21) in response to the Omicron Variant of COVID19, the Museum has prepared an internal document to share the latest update, the actions that are being taken to comply with the guidance and the protocols we’ve put in place to provide additional reassurance.

    The Museum is fortunate in that we do not have any event where we can hold 500 people internally planned at any one time, and are well below the 4,000 outdoor event capacity. Therefore, visitors will NOT be required to produce the NHS COVID Pass.

    We are reviewing the changing advice regularly and will update and inform everyone of these changes as we know about them.

    The latest guidance that directly impacts us include:

    • Face coverings in almost all internal areas are now mandatory – with the exception of hospitality  – from Friday 10 December
    • Guidance on isolation has changed – from Tuesday 14 December, people who are fully vaccinated and identified as a contact of someone with COVID-19 – whether Omicron or not – should take an NHS rapid lateral flow test every day for 7 days to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Please see update above for further details
    • Guidance on working from home has changed – from Monday 13 December

    Full details can be found here.

    In addition to the mandatory steps we must take in line with the latest guidance, we have also decided to take some additional measures to help manage our Christmas period:

    • Respraying of all distancing markers where queues may form
    • Respraying of ‘no entry’ markers
    • On entry to the Museum – Visitors will be offered a mask if they do not have one
    • Information  on admissions screens and entry boards as people enter
    • Doors and windows opened wherever possible
    • Hand sanitiser stations across site
    • Repeated signage across site referring to masks and social distancing – especially in high traffic areas.
    • COVID event risk management form regularly completed (minimum 3 times a day) to allow for a dynamic Risk Assessment of events
    • Track and trace points updated and made obvious at relevant catering outlets
    • Additional staff to act as stewards to provide extra engagement opportunities for visitors. Particularly in expected areas with heavy traffic or where queues may form
    • Communication material will be sent to all expected visitors prior to our events, including key messages on what we’re doing at the museum and what we require them to do

    The planning of our current programmes (Unwrapping Christmas and An Enchanted Christmas)  and Enterprise offer already includes COVID-safe protocols for front line colleagues. These can be found below, or via your team manager:

    Key Information Enchanted ChristmasDownload

    As you would expect the Museum has consistently maintained its compliance with  COVID-safe protocols and we will continue to follow these. Noted below are a few additional measures, as well as a reminder to all colleagues of adherence to existing protocols, these include:

    • Wearing a face covering at all times whilst in indoor public areas, unless exempt
    • Washing and/or sanitising hands on entering the Museum
    • Observing respectful behaviours re social distancing when passing others
    • Ensuring COVID protocols in terms of sanitising any ‘touch points’ in common areas are adhered to  
    • Taking a  Lateral Flow Test (LFT) Twice weekly
    • An increase the number of rest areas – details of this will be shared shortly via team managers
    • All rest areas will have limits on numbers using these areas at any one time

    We appreciate that staff may have strong views on compliance with face coverings, however, please do not offer an opinion or enter into a debate about the wearing of face coverings with visitors.

    Working From Home (Office Staff Only)

    Our approach to working from home has to take into consideration that we remain open to visitors and the support that is required for our frontline colleagues, visitor programmes, and site maintenance.

    As a result, we recommend the following:

    • Individual teams are required to assess the onsite operational  support required versus work that can be effectively carried out from home,  with the aim of reduced staff in offices on any given day
    • Office staff that cannot work from home, can continue to work on site

    Meetings

    • Default position for all meeting should be via Teams
    • If face to face meetings are essential , then these should be undertaken following the COVID protocols in place, ensuring that surfaces are sanitised, masks are worn and ventilation is present
    • Capacity limits in meeting rooms will return
    • External meetings should be restricted to business critical only, where a meeting is required (e.g. contractor) please ensure that the COVID paperwork is completed. This can be found below:
    BCLM-Contractors-Covid-19-Information-10-December-2021Download

    Lateral Flow Tests

    We are no longer able to access free Lateral Flow Tests as an employer. However, these are given for free by NHS-affiliated organisations (e.g. pharmacies, test centres etc). We would encourage all colleagues to access a Lateral Flow Test kit from one of these. Visit the .gov.uk website to do find more information.

    Isolation Rules

    At the time of this communication the rules are as follows:

    If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, self-isolate immediately and get a PCR test.

    For those who are close contacts the official guidance has now been updated, as per the notice at the top of this post: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/daily-rapid-testing-for-covid-19-contacts-launches-this-week

    If you are contacted by NHS T&T please inform your line manager for further advice.

    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do

    If you have any questions or concerns please speak to your line manager.

  • Museum road safety update

    Dear colleagues,

    An important, timely reminder for everyone in order to ensure our safety around the museum site.

    For the full duration of each closed day at the museum through the winter period, our site roads are very much ‘live’ and can be busy with traffic at any time. The same goes for days that we open to the public, before 10am and after 4pm.

    Not only are the Forging Ahead contractors able to move around outside of their hoarding with heavy duty machinery during these times, but there’s also our own site maintenance vehicles and external deliveries too.

    With that in mind, please follow these simple steps to keep everyone safe;

    • Keep to pathways where available
    • If you see or hear traffic approaching, STOP, step to the side and WAIT until it has passed
    • Don’t wear headphones when walking around the site

    As a reminder, site traffic should maintain a 5mph limit at all times and personal vehicles should not be brought onto site.

    Finally, any construction vehicle or lorry reversing anywhere outside of hoarding/fencing should always have a ‘banksman’, in high-visibility clothing, stood at the rear of that vehicle. All members of the museum community should report to the Duty Manager where they don’t see this critical safety precaution in place.

    If you have any questions or queries in relation to the above, don’t hesitate to speak with your line manager who can signpost you to the best person to help.

    Thank you.

  • Staff Consultative Forum – Nominations Open

    The Staff Consultative Forum (SCF) is a group of Museum wide colleagues to act as an important conduit and sounding board for many of the Museum’s key decisions around structure, policies, performance and wider activities that may impact staff. Chaired by the Museum’s Chief Executive/Chief Operating Officer, the Forum meets quarterly and particularly over the last 18 months has played a critical role in assisting the Museum’s endeavours to safeguard careers during the pandemic. The Forum’s members consist of an elected group of managers, front line colleagues and back office administrative staff to ensure representation of the whole Museum. Excluded from the membership are the Museum’s Leadership and People & Culture teams. The full terms of reference of the Forum can be found under the Documents tab here on the intranet (Documents/Information/Staff Consultative Forum (SCF)/Terms of Reference/Oct 2021).

    To ensure that the Forum remains fresh in its challenge and contribution, elected members can serve on the Forum for a maximum of two years per term and a maximum of two terms. As a result we would now like to invite nominations for the following posts*:

    • Administrative, Specialist & Managerial     x 1
    • Enterprise & Admissions     x 1
    • Historic Characters     x 1
    • Casuals     x 1

    If you would like to be considered as a Staff Representative, you will need a colleague from the same Constituency as you to propose your nomination and the name of another staff member, again within the same Constituency, who seconds the nomination.

    To put yourself forward, please complete and return a nomination form to the People & Culture team (based at Canalside) either by hand, deposited in the black post box outside the People & Culture office, or via email to [email protected].

    The closing date for nominations is Wednesday 27 October 2021. Elections will be held following this date if we have multiple candidates for a single role.

    Unsure about which Constituency you fall under? Check the Constituencies paper saved on the Intranet (Museum Documents/Information/Staff Consultative Forum (SCF)/Constituencies) or contact the People & Culture team.

    *All contracted colleagues, bar the Leadership and People & Culture teams, are eligible to be nominated for any of the above Constituencies, excluding the “Casuals” Constituency. Casual colleagues are eligible to be nominated for the “Casuals” Constituency only.

  • John Hughes Staff Award 2021 – Apply now – Closing Date Monday 16th August 2021

    John Hughes Staff Award 2021 – Apply now – Closing Date Monday 16th August 2021

    The John Hughes Staff Award is available to support the professional and personal development of individuals through funding for qualifications, conferences, workshops, short courses and research trips.

     This year the award is available to both permanent and casual colleagues who have worked at BCLM for a minimum of 6 months and are able to demonstrate how the award will support their professional and/or personal development whilst also benefitting the Museum.

    The award will be offered to one or multiple staff members following submission of an application form. Any supporting or additional information about the development opportunity should be attached to your application. The cost of the development opportunity should be no less than £200.

    Colleagues are required to discuss their interest with their Line Manager prior to completing the attached application. This is to ensure the application is suitable to be funded in this way and is not a requirement which may be able to be met by the Museum in other ways. Your application should be authorised by your Line Manager and submitted by you to [email protected] no later than Monday 16th August 2021.

    All applications will be subject to a ‘panel’ review which will be held shortly after the closing date. Successful applicants will be notified by end of August 2021.

    Click here to download the application form

  • BCLM’s New Website goes live

    We’re pleased to share that our brand new website has now officially launched at bclm.com! Thanks again to everyone who has helped the Audiences & Comms team in shaping the new site and providing feedback in the run up to the official launch.

    Please note that, following this initial launch, the Audiences & Comms team will be continuing working on the new site with additional content, so if there are pages you think are missing please be assured that these can be added over the coming days.

    The online shop is scheduled to launch at Phase 2 (End of August) and the Collections section will be updated with a new integration over the coming months.

  • Training Opportunity For New Transport Drivers

    Training Opportunity For New Transport Drivers

    We are looking for new transport employees to train to drive, conduct and act as a banksman as appropriate for the fleet of passenger carrying vehicles, which includes Motorbuses, Trolleybuses and Trams. At times, you will be required to drive non-passenger carrying vehicles such as cars to enhance the visitor offer or for special events.

    You will be involved in driving the passenger carrying vehicles in the fleet and engaging with the public with vehicle specific details and also the stories linked to such vehicles in the Black Country.  

    We’re looking for someone with:
    • Confident and engaging delivery
    • The ability to adapt their delivery to the audience
    • Excellent knowledge of the fleet, following training
    • A willingness to deliver a range of daily tasks to create an immersive experience for visitors.
    • The ability to adapt to the requirements and foci of programmed events/core offer.
    • A willingness to work collaboratively with a wide range of individuals.
    • The ability to adhere to safety management systems and training and/or assessment protocols, including any specific restraints or requirements concerning individual vehicles.

    Applicants will be subject to a Transport Driver initial driving assessment and only those that pass this will be considered for the formal skills training.

    Successful candidates will then receive:
    • A training programme encompassing driver, conductor and banksman responsibilities starting with Motorbuses.
    • Continued support from experienced trainers.
    • A training pack including checklists, notes and supporting images of the fleet.

    You will need to hold a full, current clean UK driving license. A driver medical will also be required. Our insurance only covers drivers between the ages of 25- 75.

    Please email your interest to [email protected] by Monday 9 August 2021. 

  • Birmingham Clean Air Zone

    To encourage cleaner, greener and more sustainable methods of transportation, on 1 June 2021 Birmingham launched its Clean Air Zone.

    It operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and has been introduced to help reduce traffic and pollution levels in central Birmingham. Subsequently, a charge is now applied daily for older non-compliant vehicles driving into the Clean Air Zone – the area includes all the roads within the A4540 Middleway Ring Road, but not the Middleway itself.  

    Whilst the SEAT Pool Car is exempt from the new charge, the museum’s older fleet of vehicles do not qualify for an exemption and must not be driven into the Clean Air Zone without prior authorisation. 

    Where practical, public transport should always be prioritised as the preferred method for undertaking a journey. But if you do have to use your own vehicle whilst on Museum business, charges associated with entering the Clean Air Zone will not normally be reimbursed, unless the final destination is within the Clean Air Zone and prior approval has been obtained from your line manager. 

    For more information on the Clean Air Zone please visit: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20076/pollution/1763/a_clean_air_zone_for_birmingham

  • Colleague tickets for events

    Colleague tickets for events

    We’re about to launch ticket on-sale for our first special event of 2021: 1940s Evening. Tickets will go on-sale to Members from 12 noon on Wed 2 June and discounted tickets for colleagues will be available for purchase from Fri 4 June.

    1940s Evening 2021 is headlined by the D-Darlings and special guests who will entertain visitors with an evening of song, reminiscence and remembrance. We’ve recorded a special video with the D-Day Darlings to celebrate 1940s Weekend and we’ll share this with you all ahead of the public release soon.

    In line with previous years we’ve been able to ring-fence an allocation of discounted tickets for colleagues this event. A minimum of 30 tickets per event night at a 50% discount will be available for colleagues to purchase for 1940s Evening and for other special events that will go on-sale later this year. Due to current visitor capping and the lowering of event capacities, we have had to proportionately reduce the allocation of discounted tickets from the usual 50 to 30. We will review the number of discounted colleague tickets that we can make available, should we be able to increase the overall capacity for events as part of the Government’s future review of the Roadmap.

    Colleagues are able to purchase up to four discounted tickets and two additional full price tickets per event. (Subject to ticket availability.)

    For more detail on the ticketing policy, please refer to this document:

    [embeddoc url=”http://pmm.d88.mywebsitetransfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Colleague-Tickets-for-Events-Policy.-May-21.pdf” download=”all” viewer=”google”]

    Colleague tickets for 1940s Evening will be available to purchase from Fri 4 June. Due to high visitor levels in Admissions for half-term, tickets should be purchased from the Sales & Ticketing office in Canalside.

    As this is the first on-sale of 2021, the Sales & Ticketing team are likely to be busy answering Member enquiries initially. Therefore, we appreciate your patience in accepting a short delay between the Members’ on-sale date and tickets being made available to staff on this occasion. However, please be assured that discounted staff tickets are a separate allocation and cannot be accessed by either BCLM Members or the public.

    A polite reminder to all colleagues that whilst attending the Museum as a visitor, you continue be a representative of BCLM. Therefore, for the comfort of visitors and other colleages, all staff & volunteers should conduct themselves in a positive manner and avoid behaviour that could risk the reputation of the individual colleague, or that of the Museum. Thank you for your understanding.